Inside Six Senses Vietnam, Quarter 1 2014

1st Quarter, 2014 Xin chào! Welcome to Six Senses Vietnam’s quarterly newsletter on what was, what is, and what will be…

Allow me to introduce myself as the newest member to the Six Senses Vietnam team, newly appointed to oversee public relations and marketing for our three properties. Following my three-and-a-half year tenure at Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, I have travelled farther from my home in Vermont - USA, with three adopted cats in tow to continue with the brand I so love. I was recruited by Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas in 2009 while completing my M.B.A. in Hospitality Management, Marketing Specialization at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Switzerland.

Each of our havens represents a unique opportunity to retreat and reflect. I am delighted to be here; ready to help, so do not hesitate to ring or write!

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Monica Majors Director of Marketing and Communications - Vietnam

Members of Hong Kong’s prestigious Dynasty Club relish the opportunity to sample Vietnam’s world-renowned flavors. An exclusive invitation to the culinary team of Six Senses Vietnam was extended; Executive Chef of Evason Ana Mandara Michael “Bao” Huynh headlining the act with support from Pham Van Tam, demi chef de partie from Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and Nguyen Quang Khanh, sous chef from Six Senses Con Dao. On 24 and 25 March, the Club presents a fashionable Vietnamese lunch set menu with an appetizer buffet. His signature dishes will be showcased, including: sautéed prawns with garlic and lemongrass; grilled chicken in lemon leaf; and braised pork belly with egg in coconut juice.

Members also enjoy cocktails and a dinner set menu on 25 March featuring his culinary creations paired with prestigious wines, such as: smoked lemongrass duck; lobster chowder “Boston-style”; slow, herb-poached salmon; herb crusted lamb loin; and hazelnut Cassava cake to top off the meal.

Xin chào, Michael Bao Huynh!

Born in Ho Chi Minh City, Chef Huynh moved to New York and earned his stripes at an Italian restaurant. He is affectionately known as “Bao,” which means “special” or “precious” and has also been used to describe his artful Vietnamese cooking.

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Vietnam | March through May, 2014

Con Dao is the only place in Vietnam where sea turtles enjoy full national park

Click on the hatchling above to access the Turtle Season 2014 brochure.

Click on the hatchling to access the #TurtleSeason Facebook® Competition.

protection. Green and Hawksbill turtles come to nest around one of thirteen beaches from late-May to late-October every year. All guests travelling between 5th May and 30th September 2014 avail of a heavy-hitting list of value-adds: ‘No Rush Hour’ at Elephant Bar; 20% discount on all spa treatments; group yoga classes; twofor-one Vietnamese cooking classes; nightly movie screenings at Marketplace; stargazing at the new observatory; and homemade selections of ice cream and sorbet in Deli’cious. The highlight of the season allows guests front-line access to nature’s miracle of green and Hawksbill turtles nesting and hatching on the neighboring beaches.

In anticipation of the season, Six Senses Con Dao will run a competition on their Facebook® page; a grand prize of two nights in a three-bedroom Oceanfront Villa.

Open for entries and voting from 5th March to 5th May, contestants must submit a photograph containing a [animate or inanimate] turtle. For those without, a download link will be provided to “adopt a virtual turtle”. Uploaded photographs are available to the public for voting throughout the duration of the competition.

Each unique user may vote for a photograph only once, but without moratorium on the number of photographs voted. The three photographs with the top number of votes will win a two-night stay at Six Senses Con Dao. During the two month competition, the resort will donate US$1 per additional page “like” to establish a new Turtle Club ~ a socially responsible initiative to offer swimming lessons to the community of Con Son Island. Sharing and posting across platforms is encouraged through use of the hashtag #TurtleSeason.

Vietnam’s vibrant cuisine features many ingredients both foreign and comfortable to the western palate. A variation of the common houseplant, “elephant ear”, taro stalks are a staple in Vietnamese sweet-and-sour soups and the leaves are used to wrap fish for steaming. Chef de Cuisine of Dining on the Rocks at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Nguyễn Đình Phước (Chef Phuoc) introduces the ingredient to guests during his famous cooking lessons, held in the resort’s expansive organic garden.

“The leaf and stalk can be difficult to find in markets outside of Vietnam.

One may more likely find the root, looking very similar to ginger. We use the whole plant, from stalk to leaf throughout some of our freshest dishes.

The leaf is bound with bamboo skewer when steaming fish, and we slice the stalk, adding it to the soup at the last minute to keep a fresh texture,” explains Chef Phuoc. Join Chef Phuoc for a detailed introduction into Vietnamese cooking..

Chef de Cuisine at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Chef Phuoc smiles among taro leaves; one of his favorite ingredients.

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Vietnam |March through May, 2014 Returning Conservationists Scott Traeger and Ash Wiscovitch journey to Six Senses Con Dao from 2nd to 24th April, 2014 to offer hands-on, interactive photography courses throughout the island’s national park and marine protected area. Scott and Ash spend most of their time working with various NGOs and research groups globally in an effort to document and help preserve dwindling biodiversity in environmentally sensitive areas. They were recently in Con Dao working with PEEK through the Bio-diversity group to help educate local children about the diverse ecology on the island. In addition to working with local schools and children, both have been busy documenting and recording different species of reptiles, amphibians, and marine species around Con Dao. Workshops begin at US$173 net, per person, across all digital photography platforms, expertise, and interests.

Scott has no qualms getting up close and personal with his subjects.

Sovico Khánh Hoà Co., Ltd. has officially acquired ownership of Evason Ana Mandara, Nha Trang. Management of the property remains with Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas; continuing delivery of exceptional service and epic experiences.

Sovico Khánh Hoà Co., Ltd. is a joint venture between Khánh Hoà Trade & Investment One-Member Co., Ltd. and Sovico Holdings, with a charter capital of 350 billion Vietnamese dong, of which Sovico’s contribution makes up 65%. Sovico Khánh Hoà Co., Ltd. will take over the management of business operations of Evason Ana Mandara and develop new projects in Khánh Hòa Province.

Addressing the presentation ceremony, Mr. Chu Việt Cường – Vice General Executive Director of Sovico Holdings – said, “Possessing a Representatives of Sovico Khánh Hoà Co., Ltd. wonderful beach, one of the most beautiful bays of the world, Officiate the transfer of ownership for luxury beach numerous beauty spots and attractive landscapes, hospitable locals resort Evason Ana Mandara. and an international airport, Nha Trang – Khánh Hoà has become one of the top destinations at the mention of Vietnam.

“Sovico sees it a great honor to make its contribution to the impressive growth of tourism in Nha Trang – Khánh Hoà,” Mr. Cường added.

Fewer places in the resorts are as inviting as this location. Following a guided hike or dive, tuck into your own, private refuge. Steam opens the pores; a great prelude to a signature body scrub at the hilltop Six Senses Spa. Where are you?

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Vietnam |March through May, 2014

Traveling to Six Senses Con Dao has never been easier or more luxurious! With two to four daily flights operated by Vasco, a subsidiary airline of Vietnam Airlines, resort reservations (reservations-condao@sixsenses.com) can reserve round trip tickets for guests as part of your pre-arrival experience. Advance bookings are necessary, and only require the guest’s full name as per their travelling passport and date of birth for travelling children. Tickets include 20kg of checked luggage allowance and 7kg for carry-on, per person.

Quick jaunts from Ho Chi Minh City are easy, with increased flights over the weekends, including a final departure from the island at 16:40.

Vasco Airlines operate exclusively air transfers to Six Senses Con Dao from Ho Chi Minh City.

The first resort out of the mainland to own a Mercedes-Benz passenger car, Six Senses Con Dao provides the ultimate in luxury transfers from Con Son airport and around the pristine island. The resort selected the classic, yet powerful GLK250 with turbocharger 2.0L engine.

Allow us to assist with your final travel arrangements and begin your vacation from the moment of confirmation.

Reserve your next transfer in private, German luxury!

Offering exceptional views of the bay and coupled with an all-star list of aperitifs, wines, digestives, cocktails, smoothies, freshly pressed juices, coffee and tea, the newly-finished bar, Drinks by the Bay opens its veranda. Open daily from 15:00 until late, daily drink specials include eaux de vie, ‘No Rush Hour’ and light bites. This is the perfect place to spend the late afternoon gazing at the beauty of the waters.

Views of the water villas are only a portion of the sights on display from Drinks by the Bay.

The brand new bar with sofa-style lounging. Come here to enjoy the fading sun and fresh cocktails.

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Vietnam |March through May, 2014 Renowned Six Senses Astronomer Dr. Parag Maharani returns to Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and Six Senses Con Dao this April. He is an independent consultant and trainer in the fields of Science and Technology and Fellow of Royal Astronomical Society, London (FRAS), and regularly returns to the resorts to offer solar observations as well as evening star gazing.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay’s stellar program from 9th to 14th April: Morning solar gazing at the Bay Jetty and Beach Bar Six-course “gAstronomy” event at Dining on the Rocks, Friday 11th April Modeled after six of the astrologic constellations, Executive Chef Jeffrey Hung and Dr. Parag join forces to match food and wine with the elements. A Cancerian amusebouche of crab meat tartare with Prosecco aperitif lead seamlessly through a presentation of the night sky’s beauty. Main course of pan-roasted beef tenderloin celebrates the mighty Taurus; paired with Taltarni Three Monks’ Carbernet Merlot.

Flammable cocktails highlight the evening; the resort’s mixologists concocting creations that set the sky alight. Pricing begins at US$100 net, per person excluding alcohol.

Gaze safely at the sun’s flares with Dr. Parag.

Six Senses Con Dao’s stellar program from 15th to 25th April: Morning solar gazing at Sense of Cosmology Rarely can man stare directly at the sun’s brilliance. Join Dr. Parag and gaze through the exclusive solar telescope. Witness the everchanging power of the sun; flares set themselves alight and are just as quickly extinguished. An absolutely must-see experience directly on the beach.

Thrice-weekly presentations at Marketplace

Dr. Parag presents the constellations for guests throughout his residence at Six Senses resorts.

Private star-gazing sessions are available at the only observatory in the south of Vietnam. Pricing begins at US$80 net, per hour.

Evason Ana Mandara demonstrates the importance of daily massage with an enticing daily programme. Add 60-minutes of daily treatment to your reservation for only US$45 net per person, per day. Is 60-minutes not enough? Roll-over the daily allotment and avail of a deluxe 120minute treatment. Massage one day and a facial the next? Absolutely!

There are no exceptions to which signature Six Senses treatments guests can choose.

Outdoor and indoor treatment rooms are available at Six Senses Spa, Evason Ana Mandara.

This exceptional offer is available only at the time of booking and is nonrefundable. The offer cannot be combined with any other, and must be taken for the entire duration of the stay. Please contact your local tour operator for details and bookings.

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Spas Vietnam | March through May, 2014 Dorelal is a Yoga expert who has spent many years studying, practicing and teaching a variety of Yoga modes and Yogic Philosophy. Dorelal is a Master in Applied Yoga Science from the most traditional of Yoga Institutions in the World, the Bihar School of Yoga. He has worked for many years at Ananda in the Himalayas and further travelled to teach in Russia, Korea, and other countries in Asia.

Dorelal shed some insight on his work in resort spas and how he addresses guests: Q. What made you decide to bring your passion for Yoga into hospitality?

A. Teaching Yoga is a passion; one I feel that I can have great range in reaching a wider amount of people. The individual and personalized service of hospitality makes me passionate to work here. Personally I feel that Yoga and meditation will add greater value to the Six Senses Spa philosophy - which is now focused on allowing individuals to connect with each other, the world around them, and, importantly themselves.

Dorelal Singh Thakur offers complimentary Yoga and meditation group classes, as well as consultations throughout his residence at Six Senses Spa Ninh Van Bay.

Q. And how do you assist guests through that process?

A. We re-vitalize, nourish and rejuvenate our mind and senses. Purifying our mind and senses heightens the sensual experience and provides better control in stressful situations, like the stress of travelling on the body.

Q. You offer Yogic cleanses, pranayama, meditation, and unique Yoga modalities including Yoga Nidra. Clearly you look to balance the chakras. Which chakra do you find most needs attunement on guests when travelling?

A. The “root chakra” (Mooladhara Chakra) needs to attune first, as this is the most unstable and important chakra in our energy body (Prana Body). Attuning this chakra helps travelers relieve fatigue, interrupted sleeping, backache, anxiety, constipation; because it improves digestion, physical and mental vitality. These are the most common needs of travellers.

Guests can book a complimentary consultation with Dorelal during his residency at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay until 31st March.

Six Senses Con Dao knows well the rejuvenating qualities in an afternoon cup of tea. A 2001 study by the Boston University confirmed a link between consistent tea intake and reduced cardiovascular disease.

Likewise, Yoga is well known to stabilize blood pressure and increase awareness through breathing and meditative techniques. Break away from your mid-afternoon lag with the resort’s newest afternoon activity: ‘A Cup of Yoga’.

Not a morning person? Join the afternoon sessions for a refreshing jolt of energy.

Restricted to six persons per session, guests can join resident Yoga Practitioner Kumar for twice-weekly sessions at 16:45 including tea and healthy spa cookies.

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Spas Vietnam | March through May, 2014

Beam Barrett is a Nationally Certified Acupuncture Physician, with a Masters in Science from the Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Beam has also been a practicing massage therapist for the past 20 years. Well-versed in many massage techniques, he is referred to as a, “Doctor of Oriental Medicine,” noting that his canon of healing encompasses all of Asia’s generational practices.

His upcoming residences will be his first in Vietnam. Here he takes a moment to share with us his experience and anticipations: Q. Your work covers meditation, pranayama, acupuncture, massage, and reflexology.

Did we miss anything?

A. I help people find inner peace; help them let go of the mind’s burdens. The amount of stress and anxiety on people today is huge. I believe this is the primary reason why we get sick. I like to use simple breathing techniques, meditation, and many other methods of holistic healing to treat the root cause in my sessions.

Request your complimentary consultation with Beam by contacting the Spa or Guest Relations.

Q. Why do you believe that Six Senses Spas in Vietnam will be a harmonious place for you to engage with travellers?

A. Through my experience with Six Senses Spas in Thailand I have seen guests visiting for either pure vacation and relaxation, or with more attention to a wellness-inspired break. Either way, my therapies compliment their stay through a general sense of wellbeing and peace that is also offered and supported by the environment.

Q. How can guests take home what you have given them?

A. I am willing, if guests so desire, to provide them with exercises and advice on how to carry their therapy home. This can be through meditation exercises, or other modalities such as Yoga or Qi Gong. It is always very personalized.

Book your treatments with Beam at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay between 15th April and 15th May or at Six Senses Con Dao between 15th May and 15th June. Group classes are also available; please consult the weekly activity schedules at the resorts.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and Six Senses Con Dao cordially seek your support for an online vote with the 2014 World Luxury Spa Awards. We are deeply honored to have your seal of approval. Please click the ribbon to vote.

Deepak is from what is widely considered the birth place and World Capital of Yoga, Rishikesh, in the foothills of northern-India. Passionate about Yoga and meditation, he finished his Diploma in Yoga and Naturopathy. Recruited with Ananda Spas, Deepak worked at Shanti Ananda Mauritius in 2003, followed by Mauritius and Seychelles with five star resorts like Constance and Hilton hotel groups. Under his leadership as Spa Manager at Hilton Labriz Resort and Spa in Seychelles the resort won “Leading Spa Resort in Seychelles - 2013”from the World Travel Awards.

Deepak's skills are varied, and as such he is keen to provide aspects of his knowledge of Yoga, western and Ayurvedic therapies to create and encourage his team and the spa’s development.

Deepak Rawat joins Six Senses Ninh Van Bay as spa manager.

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com

Inside Six Senses Vietnam |March through May, 2014 Corporate social responsibility and the Six Senses brand walk hand-in-hand. During the months of March and April, three international days of awareness beg the world’s attention: World Water Day, Saturday, 22nd March; Earth Hour, Saturday, 29th March; and Earth Day, Tuesday, 22nd April. Each resort will feature an engaging, informative and eclectic program of events to entertain across the ages and reinforce the message of conservation.

World Water Day ~ Saturday, 22nd March: Evason Ana Mandara kicks off with a local support initiative at the Linh Quang Pagoda orphanage. Hosts will visit and install a new water filtration system for the orphanage, hereby ensuring safe access to clean drinking water. Experiences at the resort continue with the theme of water preservation, including screening of FLOW in the Library, and David Attenborough’s Blue Planet in the “Just for Kids” club.

“Save water and drink Champagne” campaign at Six Senses Con Dao.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay offers a "free style water relay". Set playfully in the bay, relay teams stop at each of the four stations.

Interacting with the hosts, teams must answer questions correctly to be granted passage to the next. Challenge is increased with a short-straw lottery deciding the mode of transport. The winning team is treated to a group BBQ on the water’s edge.

The “Save Water, Drink Champagne” campaign at Six Senses Con Dao returns; specially labeled bottles available from the resort’s crystal water plant. Local engagement includes the final installments to the water purification system at Con Son Hospital.

Earth Hour ~ 20:30 – 21:30, Saturday, 29th March: Evason Ana Mandara sets the standard of ‘going beyond the hour’ by inviting guests to participate in 240 minutes of darkness. General Manager Fernando Arroyo welcomes guests on the beach for a cocktail celebration preluding the main event at Pavilion restaurant; a lavish barbecue featuring locally-farmed Nha Trang slipper lobsters.

Participating guests receive a certification to highlight their involvement.

Evason Ana Mandara will go ‘beyond the hour’ with 240 minutes of darkness.

A playful program at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay features experiences based on all four elements. General Manager Gary Henden at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay offers a guided hike to Bai Nho with a unique twist on the classic, “message in a bottle,” including questions of the elements along the hike. Prizes are for grabs, including a romantic cruise and kayak adventure with Gary. Visiting Marine Biologist Thomas Swierts leads the day’s activities as a hiatus from his house-reef surveys and maintenance. Snorkeling and insight of the bay’s marine life are available, following tours in the extensive organic garden and planting fresh fruit trees for the resort’s ongoing ‘Scent Project’.

Continuing its community outreach, the resort two solar panel systems will be donated in Khanh Son at two schools. The solar panel systems also include Inox tanks, pipes and water taps. Additionally, water filters formerly installed at three local schools will also be replaced.

Earth Day ~ Tuesday, 22nd April: Vice President of Sustainability at Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas Amber Marie Beard guides the classic day at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. On-site to deliver guest addresses on the subject of conservation, local university students will also be invited to the resort to attend. Celebrations abound with guided hikes and kumquat tree-planting.

The black-shanked langur monkey is a protected specie, and calls Ninh Van Bay “home”.

Six Senses Con Dao chooses this memorable occasion to officially open, “Herb’ivore,” the resort’s extensive fruit and vegetable garden. Meet the management and dine on local mock and cocktails including a vegetable BBQ; all ingredients grown within the resort!

Six Senses Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Cluster office: PDD Building 162 Pasteur, 2nd Floor, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam.

T: +84 93 8229 611 | Monica Majors : prd-vietnam@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com